Essential December Gardening Tasks to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

It's the Winter Solstic on Monday, and Christmas is fast approaching. It's the perfect time to prepare your garden for winter with these essential December gardening tasks.

1. 
   

Create a Christmas wreath using trimmings from the garden

My 2025 Christmas Wreath

Gather evergreen branches with intriguing flowers, berries, and leaf shapes like Ivy, Eucalyptus, and Skimmia to craft a vibrant Christmas wreath for your front door. While sphagnum moss has been traditionally used as the base, consider alternatives like twisted stems or hay/straw since moss is a significant carbon sequester.

2. Plant Bare Root Roses, Trees and Shrubs

Bare root rose in my N5 Secluded Family Garden

Now is the perfect time to plant bare root roses, trees, shrubs and hedging. Bare roots are cheaper, more environmentally friendly as there is no need for a pot and tend to establish easier as they have a stronger root system.

3. Prune Blackcurrant bushes

Blackcurrant bush in my E9 Romantic Garden

As they become dormant, December is the perfect time to prune Blackcurrant bushes, removing 1/3 of the oldest stems to the base to encourage an open vase shape.

4. Prune climbing roses

   

   Ghislaine de Feligonde Climbing Rose in my N12 Dog Friendly garden

To prune climbing roses, first remove any dead or damaged stems and thin any congested growth. Tie in any new shoots horizontally and reduce flowered shoots by 2/3rds. If the plants is congested remove a few of the older stems down to the base.

5. Winter Pots

Potted Choisya next to front door in my N12 Edwardian Front Garden

Plant fragrant evergreen shrubs such as Sarcococca or Daphne oderata in pots next to doorways to create a welcoming entrance